What Lies Ahead For The Internet?

Virtual reality, wearable technology, human rights bills? We’re unravelling the future of the web.
The internet is a many splendored thing. The most unpredictable and liberating invention of humankind, there’s little certainty around what the internet will bring us in the next few years. One thing’s for certain, though: the internet is here to stay, and it’s unlikely we’ll see any decline in its usage in the near future, or ever.
So what’s next for the online world? It’s hard to pinpoint a prediction for the future of the web; innovation is the name of the game when it comes to leading online breakthroughs, and as technologies become more advanced the doors to new horizons only become more wide open.
It’s easy to forget that the internet is just a few decades old; many of us now can’t imagine a life without it. Indeed, research from the Pew Research Center found that just under 90% of US adults say they use the internet, a huge increase on a meagre 14% who were using it in 1995. 71% of adults in the US are using the internet daily: they couldn’t imagine a life devoid of connectivity.
What does the future hold for our beloved internet, then?
1. A change in relationships.
Both romantic and platonic relationships are evolving in parallel with the internet; 57% of today’s teens have met a new friend online, and the online dating sector is now worth north of $2.2 billion worldwide, with only growth on its horizon. As we take our camaraderie to the online sphere, should we be worried about a decline in real-life communications? Hopefully as technologies progress our online activity will become more closely aligned with our day-to-day life and human interactions will still exist outside of the net.
2. A disappearing internet.
Yes, I said disappearing. Google’s chairman Eric Schmidt made headlines recently when speaking at the 2015 Davos World Economic Forum, announcing that “the internet will disappear”. Don’t panic, though, he was referring to the progression in technologies mentioned above: “It’s not that the internet will cease to exist. It’s just that the internet will disappear as a distinct and distinctive thing. When the internet is everywhere, and increasingly in everything, it ceases to be a ‘thing’ and it becomes just part of things”.
3. Multiple realities.
Augmented reality is fast approaching, and it’s not really a new concept. Webizens have been living fabricated lives online since the beginning of the internet, with sites such as Second Life allowing us to escape into the internet and into ourselves. Today, Second Life still boasts 1 million monthly users, despite being overshadowed by social media giants such as Facebook.
The future of alternate realities, however, lies in the virtual reality technologies which are waiting in the wings to disrupt the way we game, conduct business and even talk to our peers. Mark Zuckerberg sees huge potential in the technology: Facebook recently acquired the Oculus Rift, which Zuckerberg states is “a new communication platform.”. Speaking on his Facebook page, he continued:
“This is really a new communication platform. By feeling truly present, you can share unbounded spaces and experiences with the people in your life. Imagine sharing not just moments with your friends online, but entire experiences and adventures.
These are just some of the potential uses. By working with developers and partners across the industry, together we can build many more. One day, we believe this kind of immersive, augmented reality will become a part of daily life for billions of people.”.
4. The Internet Of Things (IoT).
We touched on this above, with the new streamlined web experience which will be more likened to electricity than a disruptive force: we’ll experience it without actively engaging. The IoT promises to connect our lives to the internet; everything from your curtains to your washing machine will become ‘smart’ as the IoT develops. We’re seeing a move towards this already, with devices such as the Amazon Dash Buttons and ‘Ring’, used to control your household appliances. Advances in wearable technology will see the IoT really come into its own, so watch this space…
5. A revision in human rights?
Is the internet a human right? In 2011 the UN went as far as to declare that it is. About a third of our global population use the internet, indeed as we explored above over 70% of American adults can’t live without it. In a world where all of our business and personal interactions take place on the web, is it fair to shut people out? We could see a 28th amendment to the US Constitution to include access to an internet connection in the future.
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